Articulating surgical apparatus

ABSTRACT

An endoscopic forceps is provided. The endoscopic forceps includes a housing having a shaft that extends therefrom that defines a longitudinal axis therethrough. The shaft has a first tube with a bent portion having a contour. A second tube is disposed within the first tube. An end effector assembly operatively connected to a distal end of the first tube has a pair of first and second jaw members. The first and second jaw members including respective cam slots defined therein with a cam pin movable therein. The shaft is translatable along the longitudinal axis to straighten the bent portion of the first tube to move the bent portion of the first tube from an articulated configuration to a non-articulated configuration. The second tube is translatable along the longitudinal axis to move the first and second jaw members from the open configuration to the clamping configuration.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to an articulating surgical apparatus.More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an articulatingsurgical apparatus including a shaft in coaxial relation with a firsttube having a pre-formed bent configuration.

2. Description of Related Art

Surgical instruments that are configured to articulate or bend are wellknown in the medical arts. Surgical instruments of this nature areutilized in many surgical procedures. For example, laparoscopic,endoscopic, or other minimally invasive surgical procedures are just afew of the many surgical procedures where articulating surgicalinstruments may find use. When utilized in such procedures, the surgicalinstruments may include a housing, a handle assembly, an articulatingshaft, a device for articulating the shaft, and an end effectorincluding a pair of jaw members.

As can be appreciated, the relatively small operable working space thatis created within a cavity of a patient during an endoscopic surgicalprocedure often makes it difficult for the surgeon to position the jawmembers adjacent or close to target tissue. An articulating shaft allowsa surgeon to position the jaw members adjacent target tissue.

Various articulating devices or mechanisms may be utilized to articulatethe shaft. For example, some surgical instruments utilize one or morearticulating cables or tendons that couple to one or more articulationlinks on the shaft. Typically, the cables or tendons provide amechanical interface from the one or more articulation links to anactuation device, e.g., rotatable dials, disposed on the housing and/orhandle assembly of the surgical instrument such that actuation of theactuation device moves or articulates the shaft about the articulationlinks. In particular, the cables or tendons are “pulled” or otherwisemanipulated via one or more mechanisms in the handle assembly or thehousing to articulate the shaft about the articulating links. As can beappreciated, having to add articulating links and/or tendons to thesurgical instrument may further increase manufacturing costs of thesurgical instrument and/or increase production time of theelectrosurgical endoscopic instrument.

SUMMARY

In view of the foregoing, there may be a need for an articulatingsurgical apparatus including a shaft in coaxial relation with a firsttube having a pre-formed bent configuration.

An aspect of the present disclosure provides an endoscopic forceps. Theendoscopic forceps includes a housing having a shaft that extendstherefrom that defines a longitudinal axis therethrough. The shaft has afirst tube coaxially disposed therein having a bent portion at a distalend thereof having a contour. The shaft has a second tube disposedtherein having a bent portion that follows the contour of the bentportion of the first tube. An end effector assembly is operativelyconnected to a distal end of the first tube and has a pair of first andsecond jaw members. The first and second jaw members are moveable froman open position for positioning tissue to a clamping position forclamping tissue therebetween. The first and second jaw members includerespective cam slots defined therein with a cam pin movable therein. Thecam pin operably coupling the second tube to the first and second jawmembers. The shaft is translatable along the longitudinal axis tostraighten the bent portion of the first tube to move the bent portionof the first tube from an articulated configuration to a non-articulatedconfiguration and the second tube is translatable along the longitudinalaxis to move the first and second jaw members from the openconfiguration to the clamping configuration.

The second tube may be configured to house a cutter shaft therein. Thecutter shaft may include a knife assembly having a knife bladeconfigured to reciprocate through knife channels operably disposed onthe first and second jaw members upon activation of a trigger assemblyassociated with the endoscopic forceps. An elongated slot may be definedin at least a portion of the knife assembly and is configured to house apivot pin and the cam pin therein such that the first and second jawmembers are movable independent of the knife assembly.

The endoscopic forceps may be configured to electrosurgically treattissue and is adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energyvia a cable.

The second tube may be configured to house a pair of leads of the cableto electrically couple respective seal plates of the first and secondjaw members to the source of electrosurgical energy.

A degree of curvature of the bent portion of first tube and a degree ofcurvature of the bent portion of the second tube may range from about 10degrees to about 120 degrees.

In certain instance, the endoscopic forceps may include a handleassembly having a movable handle movable relative to a fixed handle. Inthis instance, the movable handle may be operatively connected to adrive assembly that together mechanically cooperate to impart movementof the second tube.

An aspect of the present disclosure provides an endoscopic forceps. Theendoscopic forceps includes a housing having a shaft that extendstherefrom that defines a longitudinal axis therethrough. The shaft istranslatable along the longitudinal axis and has a plurality of tubesincluding a first tube coaxially disposed therein and a second tubecoaxially disposed within the first tube. The first and second tubeseach have a respective bent portion at a distal end thereof. The shaftand second tube are each translatable along the longitudinal axis withrespect to the first tube. An end effector assembly is operativelyconnected to a distal end of the first tube and has a pair of first andsecond jaw members moveable from an open position for positioning tissueto a clamping position for clamping tissue therebetween. The first andsecond jaw members include respective cam slots defined therein with acam pin movable therein, the cam pin operably coupling the second tubeto the first and second jaw members. The shaft is translatable along thelongitudinal axis to straighten the bent portion of the first and secondtubes to move the bent portion of the first and second tubes from thearticulated configuration to a non-articulated configuration and thesecond tube is translatable along the longitudinal axis to move thefirst and second jaw members from the open configuration to the clampingconfiguration.

The second tube may be configured to house a cutter shaft therein. Thecutter shaft may include a knife assembly having a knife bladeconfigured to reciprocate through knife channels operably disposed onthe first and second jaw members upon activation of a trigger assemblyassociated with the endoscopic forceps. An elongated slot may be definedin at least a portion of the knife assembly and is configured to house apivot pin and the cam pin therein such that the first and second jawmembers are movable independent of the knife assembly.

The endoscopic forceps may be configured to electrosurgically treattissue and is adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energyvia a cable.

The second tube may be configured to house a pair of leads of the cableto electrically couple respective seal plates of the first and secondjaw members to the source of electrosurgical energy.

A degree of curvature of the bent portion of first tube and a degree ofcurvature of the bent portion of the second tube may range from about 10degrees to about 120 degrees.

In certain instance, the endoscopic forceps may include a handleassembly having a movable handle movable relative to a fixed handle. Inthis instance, the movable handle may be operatively connected to adrive assembly that together mechanically cooperate to impart movementof the second tube.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are described hereinbelowwith references to the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an endoscopic bipolar forceps includinga shaft with a first tube disposed therein having a bent configurationfor positioning an end effector in an articulated configurationaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of an endoscopic bipolar forceps showingthe shaft covering the bent configuration and the end effector in anon-articulated configuration;

FIG. 2A is a side, cutaway view of a distal end of the endoscopicbipolar forceps depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along line-segment 2B-2B in FIG.2A;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are respective top and side cross-sectional views of theendoscopic bipolar forceps depicted in FIG. 1A; and

FIG. 4 is a side, cutaway view of the distal end of an endoscopicbipolar forceps according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Detailed embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed herein;however, the disclosed embodiments are merely examples of thedisclosure, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specificstructural and functional details disclosed herein are not to beinterpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as arepresentative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variouslyemploy the present disclosure in virtually any appropriately detailedstructure

Turning now to FIGS. 1A and 1B, an electrosurgical endoscopic forceps 10(forceps 10) is provided and includes a housing 20, a handle assembly30, a rotating assembly 80, a trigger assembly 70 and an end effectorassembly 100. Forceps 10 further includes a shaft 12 having a first tube13 with a distal end 14 configured to operably couple to end effectorassembly 100 and a proximal end 16 (shown in phantom in FIG. 1A) thatextends into housing 20. Forceps 10 also includes cable 310 thatconnects forceps 10 to a generator 200 or other suitable power source,although forceps 10 may alternatively be configured as a battery poweredinstrument. Cable 310 includes wires 310 a, 310 b (see FIG. 2B)extending therethrough that have sufficient length to extend throughshaft 12 in order to provide energy to respective jaw members 110 and120.

Rotating assembly 80 is rotatable in either direction about alongitudinal axis “A-A” that is defined through the shaft 12 tocorrespondingly rotate end effector 100 about longitudinal axis “A-A.”Housing 20 houses the internal working components of forceps 10, such asa drive assembly (not shown), working components of the handle assembly,electrical raceway set-up associated with the cable 310, and otherworking components therein.

With continued reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B, handle assembly 30 includesfixed handle 50 and a moveable handle 40. Fixed handle 50 is integrallyassociated with housing 20 and handle 40 is moveable relative to fixedhandle 50. Moveable handle 40 of handle assembly 30 is ultimatelyconnected to a suitable drive assembly that, together, mechanicallycooperate to impart movement of jaw members 110 and 120 between aspaced-apart or open position (FIGS. 1A and 2A) and an approximated orclamping position (FIGS. 1B and 2B) to grasp tissue disposed between jawmembers 110, 120, respectively. As shown in FIG. 1A, moveable handle 40is initially spaced-apart from fixed handle 50 and, correspondingly, jawmembers 110, 120 are in the spaced-apart position. Moveable handle 40 isdepressible from this initial position to a depressed positioncorresponding to the approximated position of jaw members 110, 120 (seeFIG. 1B). Depression of the movable handle 40 imparts distal movement ofa second tube 15 that is operably coupled to drive rod (not shown) ofthe drive assembly, which, in turn, moves the jaw members 110 and 120from the open configuration to the clamping configuration, described ingreater detail below.

Shaft 12 may be made from any suitable material including, but notlimited to surgical steel, plastic, etc. In the embodiment illustratedin FIGS. 1A and 2, shaft 12 is made from surgical steel and includes agenerally rigid configuration to move, e.g., “straighten,” a bentportion 60 of the first tube 13 to move the jaw members 110 and 120 froman articulated configuration (FIG. 1A) to a non-articulatedconfiguration (FIG. 1B).

Shaft 12 extends a predetermined distance from the housing 20 anddefines longitudinal axis “A-A” therethrough (FIGS. 1A and 1B). Inparticular, shaft 12 extends a predetermined distance from the housing20 such that in a retracted configuration (e.g., a partially extendedconfiguration) a distal end 17 of the shaft 12 is positioned adjacentthe bent portion 60 of the first tube 13 (as best seen in FIG. 1A) andin an extended configuration (e.g., a fully extended configuration) thedistal end 17 of the shaft 12 is positioned adjacent the end effector100 (as best seen in FIG. 1B). Proximal end 16 of the shaft 12 extendswithin the housing 20 and couples via one or more suitable couplingmethods to an actuation mechanism 21 for moving the shaft 12 along thelongitudinal axis “A-A.” In accordance with the instant disclosure, thedistance from the end effector 100 to the distal end 17 of the shaft 12when the shaft 12 is in the retracted configuration is approximatelyequal to the distance that the proximal end 16 of the shaft 12 extendsinto the housing 20. Thus, the proximal most portion of the shaft 12will be positioned adjacent the distal end of the housing 20 when theshaft 12 is in the extended configuration, see FIG. 1B for example. Incertain instances, it may prove advantageous to provide a proximal end16 of the shaft 12 that is configured for telescopic movement.

Actuation mechanism 21 (FIGS. 1A and 1B), e.g., a button, lever or thelike, is operably disposed on the housing 20 to move the shaft 12 alongthe longitudinal axis “A-A,” which, in turn, straightens the bentportion 60 of the first tube 13 (see FIGS. 1A and 1B). In theillustrated embodiment, actuation mechanism 21 is in the form of a slide21 that is operable to effect movement of the shaft 12 along thelongitudinal axis “A-A.” Slide 21 is movable from a first configurationwherein shaft 12 is in the partially extended configuration adjacent thebent portion 60 (FIG. 1A) to a second configuration wherein shaft 12 isin the fully extended configuration adjacent the end effector 100 (FIG.1B). Moving the slide 21 from the first configuration to the secondconfiguration allows a user to move the end effector 100 from anarticulated configuration (FIG. 1A) to a non-articulated configuration(FIG. 1B).

With reference to FIGS. 1A, 3A and 3B, first tube 13 is coaxiallydisposed within the shaft 12. First tube 13 may be made from anysuitable resilient material including, but not limited to, plastic,metal, shape memory alloy, e.g., Nitinol, etc., to provide a suitablecombination of stiffness and flexibility; that is, a suitablecombination of stiffness and flexibility that allows the bent portion 60to maintain a normally bent configuration when not under a load, i.e., aload provided by the shaft 12. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS.1A, 3A and 3B, first tube 13 is made from a substantially resilientplastic to facilitate moving the first tube 13 from the bentconfiguration to the “straightened” configuration and vice versa. Bentportion 60 of the first tube 13 includes a degree of curvature thatranges from about 10 degrees to about 120 degrees relative to thelongitudinal axis “A-A.”

In certain embodiments, the first tube 13 may be configured to functionsimilar to the shaft 12. That is, in this embodiment, the shaft 12includes a bent portion 62 (FIG. 4) and the first tube 13 istranslatable along the longitudinal axis “A-A” to straighten a bentportion 62 of the shaft 12 to move the jaw members 110 and 120 from thearticulated configuration to a non-articulated configuration; thisembodiment is discussed in greater detail below.

Continuing with reference to FIGS. 2A, 3A and 3B, a second tube 15 isoperably disposed within the first tube 13. Second tube 15 includes abent portion 61 that follows a contour of the bent portion 60 of thefirst tube 13 (as best seen in FIG. 2A). As with bent portion 60, bentportion 61 is moveable from the bent configuration to a straightenedconfiguration. To this end, second tube 15 may be made from a relativelyresilient material similar to first tube 13. As can be appreciated, adegree of curvature of the bent portion 61 is substantially equal tothat of the degree of curvature of the bent portion 60 of the first tube13.

Second tube 15 operably couples to a pair of cam slots 113 (one cam slotis shown in FIG. 2A) via a cam pin 114 on jaw members 110 and 120 tomove the jaw members 110 and 120 from the open configuration to theclamping configuration (see FIGS. 1A and 1B). Alternately, or incombination therewith, one or more other types of actuation featuressuch as, for example, linkages, lever arms and the like may be utilizedto move the jaw members 110 and 120 from the open configuration to theclamping configuration. Cam pin 114 is positioned through the secondtube 15 and housed in an elongated slot 74 on a knife assembly 71 (FIGS.3A and 3B).

In certain embodiments, second tube 15 is configured to house the pairof leads 310 a and 310 b of the electrosurgical cable 310 toelectrically couple respective seal plates 118 and 128 of the jawmembers 110 and 120 to generator 200.

In the illustrated embodiment, second tube 15 is configured to house acutter shaft 73 therein (FIGS. 3A and 3B). In this instance, knifeassembly 71 is operably coupled to the distal end of the cutter shaft 73and includes a knife blade 72. Knife assembly 71 including knife blade72 is configured for reciprocation through corresponding knife channels(not shown) on the jaw members 110 and 120. Elongated slot 74 isconfigured to house the cam pin 114 therein so that the jaw members 110and 120 may move independent of the knife assembly 71. Elongated slot 74is also configured to house a pivot pin 103 that extends through thefirst tube 13 to provide a pivot for the jaw members 110 and 120.

Cutter shaft 73 is translatable within the second tube 15 from aretracted position wherein the knife assembly 71 is positioned at aproximal end of the jaw members 110 and 120 (FIGS. 3A and 3B) to anextended position wherein the knife assembly 71 is positioned at adistal end of the jaw members 110 and 120 (not shown). Movement of theknife assembly 71 from the retracted position to the extended positionallows a user to sever tissue clamped between the jaw members 110 and120, e.g., post electrosurgical treatment of tissue, e.g., tissue thathas been sealed.

Referring again to FIGS. 1A and 1B, end effector assembly 100 is shownattached at a distal end 14 of the tube 13 (as best seen in FIG. 3A) andincludes opposing jaw members 110 and 120. Each of jaw members 110 and120 includes an electrically conductive tissue sealing surface 118, 128,respectively. End effector assembly 100 is designed as a bilateralassembly, i.e., where both jaw member 110 and jaw member 120 aremoveable about pivot pin 103 relative to one another and to shaft 12,see FIGS. 1A and 1B. However, end effector assembly 100 mayalternatively be configured as a unilateral assembly, i.e., jaw member120 is fixed relative to jaw member 110 which is moveable about pivot103 and relative to fixed jaw member 120. As noted above, knife assembly71 is disposed within the second tube 15 and knife channels (not shown)may be defined within one or both jaw members 110, 120 to permitreciprocation of knife blade 72 therethrough, e.g., via activation oftrigger 70 of trigger assembly 80.

In use, jaw members 110 and 120 are, initially, in an open configurationand in an articulated configuration as a result of the bent portion 60of the first tube 13. To move the end effector 100 including the jawmembers 110 and 120 from the articulated configuration to anon-articulated configuration, slide 21 is moved distally, which, inturn, moves shaft 12 distally and over bent portion 60 of the first tube13. As the shaft 12 moves over the bent portion 60, the bent portion 60and, thus, the end effector 100 including the jaw members 110 and 120moves toward a non-articulated configuration. The unique configurationof the movable shaft 12 and first tube 15 allows a user to move the endeffector 100 including the jaw members 110 and 120 from an articulatedconfiguration to a non-articulated configuration without the use of theaforementioned tendons, links, etc. that are typically associated withconventional forceps, which, as can be appreciated, reducesmanufacturing costs of the forceps 10.

To move the jaw members 110 and 120 from the open configuration to theclamping configuration, movable handle 40 is moved through anapproximation stroke, i.e., moved proximally toward the fixed handle 50.Movement of the movable handle 40 moves the second tube 15, which, inturn, moves the jaw members 110 and 120 toward one another to clamptissue therebetween. Subsequently, the clamped tissue may be treated.

In certain instance, it may prove advantageous to sever the sealedtissue. In this instance, trigger assembly 70 may be pressed, which, inturn, advances the cutter shaft 73 including the knife assembly 71distally and through the knife channels on the jaw members 110 and 120,which, in turn, results in the treated tissue being severed.

From the foregoing and with reference to the various figure drawings,those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain modifications canalso be made to the present disclosure without departing from the scopeof the same. For example, and as noted above, in embodiments, the shaft12 may be configured to move from a bent configuration to a straightenedconfiguration to move the end effector 100 including jaw members 110 and120 from an articulated configuration to a non-articulatedconfiguration. In this instance, shaft 12 includes bent portion 62 (FIG.4) and is configured to function similar to the first tube 13. As can beappreciated, certain modifications to the forceps 10 may be needed toaccommodate this type of configuration. For example, the slide 21 (orother suitable device) may be configured to effect movement of the firsttube 13 instead of the shaft 12. Moreover, other types of actuators maybe employed to articulate the shaft and position the end effectorsrelative to tissue, e.g., rotating wheels, knobs, levers, etc.

While several embodiments of the disclosure have been shown in thedrawings, it is not intended that the disclosure be limited thereto, asit is intended that the disclosure be as broad in scope as the art willallow and that the specification be read likewise. Therefore, the abovedescription should not be construed as limiting, but merely asexemplifications of particular embodiments. Those skilled in the artwill envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of theclaims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:
 1. An endoscopic forceps, comprising: a housing; ashaft that extends from the housing and defining a longitudinal axistherethrough; a first tube coaxially disposed within the shaft, thefirst tube having a bent portion at a distal end thereof having acontour; a second tube disposed within the first tube, the second tubeincluding a bent portion that follows the contour of the bent portion ofthe first tube; and an end effector assembly operatively connected to adistal end of the first tube and having first and second jaw members,the first and second jaw members moveable from an open position forpositioning about tissue to a clamped position for clamping tissuetherebetween, the first and second jaw members including respective camslots defined therein with a cam pin movable therein, the cam pinoperably coupling the second tube to the first and second jaw members,wherein the shaft is translatable along the longitudinal axis tostraighten the bent portion of the first tube to move the bent portionof the first tube from an articulated configuration to a non-articulatedconfiguration, and wherein the second tube is translatable along thelongitudinal axis to move the first and second jaw members from the openconfiguration to the clamping configuration.
 2. An endoscopic forcepsaccording to claim 1, wherein the second tube is configured to house acutter shaft therein.
 3. An endoscopic forceps according to claim 2,wherein the cutter shaft includes a knife assembly having a knife bladeconfigured to reciprocate through knife channels operably defined withinthe first and second jaw members upon activation of a trigger assemblyassociated with the housing.
 4. An endoscopic forceps according to claim3, wherein an elongated slot is defined in at least a portion of theknife assembly and is configured to house a pivot pin and the cam pintherein such that the first and second jaw members are movableindependent of the knife assembly.
 5. An endoscopic forceps according toclaim 1, wherein the first and second jaw members are configured toelectrosurgically treat tissue and are adapted to connect to a source ofelectrosurgical energy via a cable.
 6. An endoscopic forceps accordingto claim 5, wherein the second tube is configured to house a pair ofleads of the cable to electrically couple respective seal plates of thefirst and second jaw members to the source of electrosurgical energy. 7.An endoscopic forceps according to claim 1, wherein a degree ofcurvature of the bent portion of first tube and a degree of curvature ofthe bent portion of the second tube ranges from about 10 degrees toabout 120 degrees.
 8. An endoscopic forceps according to claim 1,further including a handle assembly including a movable handle movablerelative to a fixed handle, the movable handle operatively connected toa drive assembly that together mechanically cooperate to impart movementof the second tube.
 9. An endoscopic forceps, comprising: a housing; ashaft that extends from the housing and defining a longitudinal axistherethrough; a first tube coaxially disposed within the shaft, thefirst tube having a bent portion at a distal end thereof; a second tubecoaxially disposed within the first tube, the second tube having a bentportion at a distal end thereof, wherein the shaft and the second tubeare translatable along the longitudinal axis with respect to the firsttube and one another; and an end effector assembly operatively connectedto a distal end of the first tube and having first and second jawmembers moveable from an open position for positioning about tissue to aclamped position for clamping tissue therebetween, the first and secondjaw members including respective cam slots defined therein with a campin movable therein, the cam pin operably coupling the second tube tothe first and second jaw members, wherein the shaft is translatablealong the longitudinal axis with respect to the first and second tubesto straighten the bent portion of the first and second tubes to move thebent portion of the first and second tubes from the articulatedconfiguration to a non-articulated configuration, and wherein the secondtube is translatable along the longitudinal axis with respect to thefirst tube and the shaft to move the first and second jaw members fromthe open configuration to the clamping configuration.
 10. An endoscopicforceps according to claim 9, wherein the second tube is configured tohouse a cutter shaft therein.
 11. An endoscopic forceps according toclaim 10, wherein the cutter shaft includes a knife assembly having aknife blade configured to reciprocate through knife channels operablydefined within the first and second jaw members upon activation of atrigger assembly associated with the housing.
 12. An endoscopic forcepsaccording to claim 11, wherein an elongated slot is defined in at leasta portion of the knife assembly and is configured to house a pivot pinand the cam pin therein such that the first and second jaw members aremovable independent of the knife assembly.
 13. An endoscopic forcepsaccording to claim 9, wherein the first and second jaw members areconfigured to electrosurgically treat tissue and are adapted to connectto a source of electrosurgical energy via an electrosurgical cable. 14.An endoscopic forceps according to claim 13, wherein the second tube isconfigured to house a pair of leads of the electrosurgical cable toelectrically couple respective seal plates of the first and second jawmembers to the source of electrosurgical energy.
 15. An endoscopicforceps according to claim 9, wherein a degree of curvature of the bentportion of first tube and a degree of curvature of the bent portion ofthe second tube ranges from about 10 degrees to about 120 degrees. 16.An endoscopic forceps according to claim 9, further including a handleassembly including a movable handle movable relative to a fixed handle,the movable handle operatively connected to a drive assembly thattogether mechanically cooperate to impart movement of the second tube.